Related Links

Greensboro, NC -- At 17 years old, Josh Level was still a kid. But in his short life, he was able to impact so many others.

To hear others talk about him, Josh wasn't just a great athlete.

He wasn't just a great friend.

He was a young man with deep convictions, and a deep faith, which he lived everyday and it didn't go unnoticed.

"Josh was a big time athlete and a lot of people knew him, but he never carried himself like that," said Joseph Level, Josh's father.

"One of the most compassionate people I've ever met," said Kanayo Obi-Rapu, Jr., Josh's best friend.

On Saturday, at Josh's funeral, his older brother had an invitation. Inspired by Josh, he asked anyone who wanted to make their life right with God and give their life to the Lord to come toward the altar.

"That, I believe, could not be timed or planned or programmed," said Pastor Bryan Pierce, Senior Pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro.

More than 100 teenagers and young adults answered the call.

"I have been in ministry for 30 years. And I have never experienced what I experienced this past weekend," said Pierce. "In 17 years, to impact so many lives, in such a short period of time, is simply remarkable."

They didn't all go to Josh's school or attend his church, or even grow up in his house.

"It's just a testimony of his life, of his walk, and people, even strangers, that did not know him, some kind of way, they were moved by his story," said Pierce.

Josh inspired others to write their own story.

"We must recognize not just the big things, but the small things in every person, because all of us have something that we can bring to this game called life," said Pierce.

Josh's little sister, Jordan, has Down Syndrome.

And on Monday, Joseph Level told WFMY News 2 that he and his wife always knew, if something happened to them, Josh would be the one to take care of his little sister because "his heart was just that big".

"We know where he is," said Level.

Pierce said along with the hundreds of people who attended Josh's funeral on Saturday, 4,000 more watched it stream live online.